A Third Generation
Ophthalmologist
Dr. Hani Sakla is a third generation ophthalmologist – his father, Dr. Fouad, graduated in 1956 and his grandfather, Dr. Ragheb, graduated in 1922. The three generations graduated from Kasr Al Ainy School of Medicine in Cairo, the oldest in the Middle East. Medicine and Ophthalmology have always been a vocation and passion in the family, with many cousins and uncles working as doctors in five continents.
Dr. Hani Sakla, a Spanish national, was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1963. He graduated from the School of Medicine in 1986 with top honors. He completed his ophthalmology training in the Research Institute of Ophthalmology RIO in Giza, which is a 110 bed eye hospital. In 1991 he obtained his Masters Degree in Ophthalmology M.Sc, and he was appointed as an assistant lecturer of Ophthalmology in the RIO. In 1994 he won a scholarship from the Government of Spain to apply for the Doctorate Degree in Ophthalmology, which was a turn of paramount importance in his career.
In 1997 he successfully obtained the Doctorate Degree from the University of Miguel Hernandez in Alicante with the highest note of Apto Cum Laude. His thesis was about the sutureless eye surgeries which were something new at that time. He patented a new bioadhesive which can be used in some eye surgeries instead of the sutures. He worked with the pioneer group in Spain that developed and advocated the LASIK procedure in Spain and around the world, under the supervision of Professor Jorge Alio and Dr. Perez-Santonja in Alicante Institute of Ophthalmology. He also participated in the first book ever published in the world about LASIK in 1997.
Dr. Hani Sakla has many studies published in international peer reviewed journals including the journal of Ophthalmology from the American Academy of Ophthalmology AAO, the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery from the American Society of Cataract and Refractive surgery ASCRS, the Journal of Refractive Surgery from the International Society of Refractive Surgery ISRS, and many others.
Since 1989 he dedicated his practice to cataract and intraocular implant surgeries, corneal surgeries, keratoplasties, all refractive procedures with excimer laser like LASIK, Epilasik, Ultralasik, Femtosecond Lasik, besides implant refractive surgeries like Phakic Lenses ICL, or clear refractive lens exchange. He also specialized in glaucoma diseases and medical retina.
He soon moved to Dubai to work as a consultant eye surgeon, where he introduced the phacoemulsification technique and the sutureless cataract surgeries with foldable lenses and made it a popular technique among his peers. Dr. Hani Sakla was elected as the chairman of the scientific committee in the Emirates Medical Association since 2001 till present. In the course of his service, he organizes many international ophthalmology conferences in Dubai.
- Qualifications
- Achievements
- Professional Carrer
- Patents and Awards
- Books and Essays
- Publications
- Associations
M.B.,B.Ch. Nov. 1986. Very good with Honor, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University.
M.Sc. Ophthalmol. Nov. 1991.Good, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University.
M.D. Ophthalmol. Sept. 1997. Excellent with Honor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alicante, Spain.
Dr. Hani Sakla has always aspired to be at the cutting edge of the ophthalmic technology and to bring the state of the art to the region. He was the first to implant the Restor Multifocal Lenses in 2003 outside the US and Europe and he was in the international study group to evaluate the lens.
He was also the first to implant the Toric Acrysof Lens in the gulf region before hundreds of doctors who attended the live surgery during the EOC 2008 in Dubai. Dr. Hani Sakla was the first to use the Toric Implantable Contact Lenses to correct the visual problems in Keratoconus patients in the UAE.
Dr. Hani Sakla was the first to introduce the intravitreal injections of lucentis to treat diabetic macular edema in 2006 which eventually became a preferred and common practice in the UAE. Also back in the year 2000, he was the first to use the photodynamic therapy to treat age related macular degenerations. And in 2009, he was the first to use the most modern Zeimer LDV Femtosecond laser to perform a safe ZLASIK.
Throughout his career, Dr. Sakla was a speaker, video presenter and organizer of numerous conferences and courses.
- 1/3/1987-29/2/1988: Internship in Cairo University Hospitals and the Hospitals of the Egyptian Ministry of Health;
- 1/3/1988-22/6/1992: Ophthalmology Resident in the Hospital of the Research Institute of Ophthalmology, El Giza, Cairo, Egypt;
- 23/6/1992: Appointed as Assistant Lecturer of Ophthalmology, Research Institute of Ophthalmology, El Giza, Cairo, Egypt;
- 4/10/1994-4/2/1998: Scholarship to obtain the Doctorate Degree in Ophthalmology, University of Alicante, Spain (Scholarship from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs);
- 29/5/1997: Obtained the fellowship of Alicante Institute of Ophthalmology (Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante, Fundación Jorge Alió);
- 21/5/1998: Lecturer of Ophthalmology, Research Institute of Ophthalmology, El Giza;
- 16/2/1999 till today: Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dubai Hospital, DOH&MS;
- Sept. 2003: Promoted to Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology in Research Institute of Ophthalmology, El Giza;
- 2009: Founder and Medical Director Ebsaar Eye Surgery Center, Dubai, UAE.
PATENT:
- New bioadhesives for ocular surgery. ADAL-1® , patented by the O.E.P.M ( Spanish office for patents and brands) in 21 June 1996 with the Nº P9601398.
AWARDS:
- Prof. Dr. Amin El Magraby Award for the best article published in the Bullitin of the Egyptian Ophthalmological society in the year 2002, presented from the Egyptian Ophthalmological Society for the article titled “Comparison of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for low and moderate myopia”
- Star of the year, Dept. of Health and Medical services, Government of Dubai 2005.
AUTHOR OF BOOK CHAPTER in the first published book about LASIK:
- Santonja JJ, Sakla HF, Alió JL: Chapter 11; Resultados: Experiencia otros autores. Queratomileusis in situ con laser excimer (LASIK).
Ed. Puente AA, Güell JL, DíezFeijoó E., Tecnimedia Editorial, S.L., Page 151- 166. Madrid 1997. - Corneal Collagen Cross Linking.
Editors: Mazen Sinjab and Arthur Cimmings. Publisher Springer 2016.6
ESSAY &THESIS:
- Essay submitted In partial fulfillment of the Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Post
Sept. 2003.
Title: LASIK. Flap Complications.
Panel: Prof. Dr. Taha Labib, Prof. Dr. Zainab Osman, Prof. Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim. - Thesis to obtain the Doctarate in Ophthalmology.1997
Title: ADAL-1®, New bioadhesive as an alternative to sutures in Ophthalmic surgery.
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Jorge L. Alió, Chairman of the Ophthalmology Dept. Univ. Alicante. Dra. María Emilia Mulet , Asociate Professor Ophthalmol. Univ. Alicante.
Qualification: UNANIMOUS CUM-LAUDE (EXCELLENT WITH HONOR).19/9/1997. - Essay to obtain the Master degree in Ophthalmology.1991
Title: Comparison between collagen shields and other therapeutic contact lenses.
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Momtaz Higazy. Professor of Ophthalmoogy, Prof. Dr. Khalid Mansour. Professor of Ophthalmology, Cairo University.
- Simultaneous Topography-Guided Photorefractive keratectomy and Accelerated Corneal Collagen Cross-linking for Keratoconus. Sakla H, Altroudi W, Munoz G, Sakla Y. Cornea. 2016 Jul;35(7):941-5
- Simultaneous topography-guided partial photorefractive keratectomy and corneal collagen crosslinking for keratoconus. Sakla H, Altroudi W, Muñoz G, Albarrán-Diego C. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2014 Sep;40(9):1430-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2013.12.017.
- Combining Zonal refractiva and diffrecative Aspheric Multifocal intraocular lens. Gonzalo Munoz, Cesar Albarran-Diego, Jaime Javaloy. Hani Sakla, Alejandro Verino. J Refract Surg. 2012 Mar;28(3):174-81.
- Visual function after bilateral implantation of a new zonal refractive aspheric multifocal intraocular lens. Muñoz G, Albarrán-Diego C, Ferrer-Blasco T, Sakla HF, García-Lázaro S. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2011 Nov;37(11):2043-52. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2011.05.045
- Effects of LASIK on corneal endothelium using the 15-kHz IntraLase femtosecond laser. Muñoz G, Albarrán-Diego C, Sakla HF, Ferrer-Blasco T, Javaloy J. J Refract Surg. 2011 Sep;27(9):672-7. doi: 10.3928/1081597X-20110415-02. Epub 2011 May 10.
- Increased risk of flap dislocation with perioperative Brimonodine use in femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis. Munoz G, Albarran-diego C, Sakla HF, Javaloy J. J Cataract Refract surg. 2009 Aug; 35 (8): 1338-42.
- Autorefraction alter Multifocal IOLs. Munoz G, Albarran-Diego C, Sakla HF Ophthalmology :2007 Nov ;114 (11):2100.
- Femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis for consecutive hyperopia after radial keratotomy. Gonzalo Munoz, Cesar Albarran-Diego, Hani F. Sakla, Jaime Javaloy. J Cataract Refract Surg 2007; 33:1183-1189.
- Validity of autorefraction after cataract surgery with multifocal Rezoom intraocular lens implantation. Gonzalo Munoz, Cesar Albarran-Diego, Hani F. Sakla J Cataract Refract Surg 2007; 33:1573-1578
- Transient Light-sensitivity syndrome after laser in situ keratomileusis with the femtosecond laser. Munoz G, Albarran-Diego C, Sakla HF, Javaloy J, Alio JL. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2006 Dec; 32 (12): 2075-2079.
- Femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis after radial keratectomy. Munoz G, Albarradiego C, Sakla HF, Perez-Santonja JJ, Alio JL. J Cataract Refract Surg.2006 August; 32(8): 1270-1275.
- Comparison of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for low and moderate myopia. Hani Fouad Sakla. Bull. Ophthalmol. Soc. Egypt, 2002; vol.95, Number 1, 45-49.
- Improvement of the endothelium after LASIK in gas-permeable contact lens wearers. Hani F. Sakla. Bull. Ophthalmol. Soc. Egypt, 2001;Vol.94, Number 1, 111-116.
- ADAL-1, Nuevo Adhesivo sintetico de uso en cirugia del estrabismo. Mulet Homs ME, Fouad Sakla H, Mahiques M, Alio J, et. al. Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol. 2001: 76:43-52.
- New bioadhesive ADAL-1: determination of its tensile strength to join muscle tissue to sclera. Mulet Homs ME, Alio Y Sanz JL, Sakla HF, Mahiques Bujanda MM, Martin Martinez JM. Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol. 2000 Mar; 75(3):165-9. Spanish.
- Surgical correction of severe myopia with a new angle-supported phakic intraocular lens. Juan J Perez-Santonja, Hani Fouad Sakla. Emirates medical J. 2000; 18(2):107-116.
- Retreatment after laser in situ Keratomileusis. Pérez-Santonja JJ, Ayala MJ, Sakla HF, Ruiz-Moreno JM, Alió JL. Ophthalmology. 1999;106:21-28.
- Contrast sensitivity changes after LASIK for hyperopia. Hani Fouad Sakla, and Juan Jose Perez Santonja. Bull. Ophthalmol. Soc. Egypt,1999;Vol.92,Number 2, 395-398.4
- Corneal sensitivity after photorefractive keratectomy and laser in situ keratomileusis for low myopia. JJ. Pérez-Santonja, Hani F.Sakla, Carmen Cardona, Enrique Chipont, JL. Alió. Am J Ophthalmol 1999;127:497-504. Evaluation of eye traking in the centration of LASIK surgery. Hani Fouad Sakla. Bull. Ophthalmol. Soc. Egypt, 1998; vol. 91, Number 2, 475-477.
- Subclinical inflammation after laser in situ keratomileusis. Juan J. Pérez-Santonja, Hani F. Sakla, Carmen Cardona, Ruiz-Moreno, Jorge L. Alió. J Cataract Refract Surg. 1998; 24, 1059-1063.
- Efficacy of synthetic and biological bioadhesives in scleral tunnel phacoemulsification in eyes with high myopia. Alió JL, Mulet E, Sakla HF, Gobbi F. J Cataract& Refractive Surgery.July 24 (7):983-8, 1998.
- Contrast sensitivity after laser in situ keratomileusis. Juan J. Pérez-Santonja, Hani F. Sakla, Jorge L. Alió. J Cataract Refract Surg 1998; 24 183-189.
- Recovery of corneal nerve morphology following laser in situ keratomileusis. Linna TU, Pérez-Santonja JJ, Tervo KM, Sakla HF, Alió JL, Tervo TT. Exp Eye Res 1998; 66, 755-763.
- Corneal wound healing after laser in situ keratomileusis. Pérez-Santonja JJ, linna TU, Tervo KA, Sakla HF, Alió Y Sanz JL, Tervo TM. J Refract Surg 1998;14:602-609.
- Corneal endothelial changes after laser in situ keratmileusis. J.J. Pérez-Santonja, Hani F. Sakla, Ferdinando Gobbi, Jorge L. Alió. Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Vol. 23, March 1997, Page 177-183.
- Nocardial keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis. J.J. Pérez-Santonja, Hani F. Sakla, J.L. Abad, A. Zorraquino, J. Esteban, J.L. Alió. Journal of Refractive surgery. Vol 13 May/June 1997, Page 314-317.
- Evaluation of endothelial cell changes one year after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). J.J. Pérez-Santonja, Hani F. Sakla, Jorge L. Alió. Archives of Ophthalmolgy.1997, 115:841-846.
- The potential multifocal application of LASIK for the correction of presbyopia. Patel S, Santonja JJ, Sakla HF, Alió J. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. Vol. 37, Nº 3, S 62, P 287, 1996.
- Efficay and tolerance of ADAL-1: A new adhesive for strabismus surgery. Sakla H, Mulet E, Mahiques M, Alió J. Vision Research. Vol.36, Suppl. Page S 86, 1996.
- 5-Flourouracil & Mitomycin-C for prevention of posterior capsule opacification. Sakla HF, Ismail MM, Ruiz-Moreno JM, Borras F, Alio JL. Vision Research. Vol. 36, Suppl. Page S 163, 1996.
- Use of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive in small incision cataract surgery. Alió JL, Mulet ME, Sakla HF Vision Research. Vol. 35, Suppl. P.232, 1995.
- Efficacy of organic Vs. inorganic bioadhesives in cataract surgery through 8 mm scleral tunnel in high myopes. Alió J, Mulet ME, Sakla HF, Gobbi F. Vision Research. Vol. 35, Suppl. Page S 126, 1995.
- Visual and Refractive Outcomes of Toric Implantable Collamer Lens Implantation in Stable Keratoconus After Combined Topography-Guided PRK and CXL by Dr. Hani F. Sakla, From Ebsaar Eye Surgery Center, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Submitted: April 6, 2021; Accepted: September 7, 2021
Dr. Hani Sakla is a reviewer for the prestigious Journal of Ophthalmology published monthly by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is also a reviewer for the Journal of the Emirates Medical Association. Dr. Hani Sakla has been invited to perform live cataract and refractive surgeries at many international ophthalmology conferences like the PAACO, MEACO, EOC, and others. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology AAO, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeries ASCRS, International Society of Refractive Surgeons ISRS, and other societies in different countries.
Dr. Sakla participated in many researches about Keratoconus treatments and for the first time in ME, it was introduced an effective treatment for that disease with Laser and crosslinking.
He is married to Nancy and he has two daughters and a son.